Extinction Rebellion fears force Cambridge University to move its graduation ceremony


Extinction Rebellion fears force Cambridge University to move its graduation ceremony after eco-warriors ripped up its lawn while police officers stood and watched

  • University received ‘credible intelligence’ the group ‘may disrupt congregation’
  • The ceremony is usually held at Senate House but will now be moved elsewhere
  • Attendees will now be informed of the new venue just two hours before it starts

A Cambridge University graduation ceremony has been moved to a secret location today amid fears Extinction Rebellion will try to ruin it.

The university said it had received ‘credible intelligence’ that protesters connected with the environmental group ‘may disrupt the congregation’.

Students from several colleges have therefore been told the event – which had been booked for the historic Senate House – will instead be at an ‘alternative venue in central Cambridge with a revised timetable’.

Students from several colleges have therefore been told the event – which had been booked for the historic Senate House (pictured) – will instead be at an ‘alternative venue in central Cambridge with a revised timetable’

The precautionary measure has been taken ‘on the advice of the university’s security and safety team’, according to an email send to students on Monday.

They have also been advised not to walk to the ceremony in their gowns and hoods, as is customary at Cambridge graduations.

Attendees will be informed of the new venue after noon, ahead of the ceremony at 2pm.

A US student graduating with a PhD in medical science told the Varsity student newspaper she was ‘really upset’ about the last minute change’, labelling it ‘extremely unfair’.

She said she ‘spent many months’ worth of savings’ on the trip to Cambridge, only to find out she would not graduate from the traditional venue an hour-and-a-half before her flight.

A Cambridge University spokesman told Varsity: ‘On the advice of the University’s security and safety team, the Congregation will now take place in an alternative venue.

‘The University has not taken the decision to put these alternative arrangements in place lightly, and appreciates that many Graduands will have been looking forward to graduating in the Senate House, and that they and their guests will have made travel arrangements.

‘The University’s primary concern is to offer Graduands and their guests a fitting celebration of their achievements while mitigating any serious risk of disruption.

They have also been advised not to walk to the ceremony in their gowns and hoods, as is customary at Cambridge graduations (stock image)

A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Cambridge said ‘nothing was planned, and we have no intention of disrupting graduation’.

Extinction Rebellion sparked outrage this week after destroying the lawn outside Cambridge’s Trinity College.

Protestors returned to the dug-up lawn yesterday and handed out wildflower seeds in order to ‘re-wild the planet and grow something new’.

Activists attempted to justify tearing up the lawn at Trinity College on Monday, citing ‘the destruction of nature’ at Innocence Farm in Trimley St Mary, Suffolk.

The college owns the farm, where plans were submitted for a lorry park. The scheme was rejected.

Police came under fire for failing to stopping the stunt, with no arrests made on the day.

South Cambridgeshire Tory MP Anthony Browne said he was ‘horrified’ by the officers’ inaction.

Three people were later arrested. Four other people were held following further acts of criminal damage in the city on Tuesday.